By Randy Garrison

Special to the Enquirer

As Jesus entered into Jerusalem riding on a donkey on the first day of the week, the crowds of people on the street waved palm branches and even covered his path on the road with the branches.  Palm branches in Biblical times often symbolized goodness and victory.

From the book of Matthew we read:

“A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’” –Matt. 21:8-9
The people were excited, and it showed on their faces. Much like the faces of little children as they walk through the sanctuaries each year on Palm Sunday, we all get excited and sing “Hosanna to the King” – but unlike what we know now, the people of Jerusalem were expecting Jesus to take over as military leader and free them from the bondage of Rome.
However, as He rode into Jerusalem, Jesus began His journey to Calvary and to the cross, where He would become the final sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. Jesus’ fate at the end of the week would free all from bondage – the bondage of sin and death.
While Jesus knew what fate beheld him in Jerusalem, and had shared that with His disciples and followers, I am sure it would have been hard for them to believe that what had been prophesied could possibly take place.
Jesus shared with His disciples on night of the Passover about what was to happen to him: that he was about to suffer.
“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’  In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’” —Luke 22:19-20
Later that evening as Jesus was praying, a group came and arrested him. “Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard and the elders, who had come for him, ‘Am I leading a rebellion that you have come with swords and clubs?’ —Luke 22:52.
He was tried before Pilate and Herod, and Pilate gave into the crowd and religious leaders as they shouted “Crucify Him,” a change from the “Hosannas” they shouted just a few days prior.
Friday, the Roman soldiers would carry out Pilate’s orders to crucify Jesus. He willingly gave up His life on the cross at Golgotha, the ultimate and final sacrifice for the sins of man – of yours and mine. As he breathed His last, the curtain was torn, and Jesus opened the gateway to God’s throne of grace for all of us.
While all looked grim and over, Jesus was dead and laid in the tomb, but while this was Friday, Sunday was coming.
Early on the first day of the week, those who went looking for Jesus body found it missing, for He had risen.
Jesus had broken the power of sin and death and now opened the pathway to eternal life for all of us.
Seven days changed eternity for all who are willing to believe He was crucified, died, was buried and rose again. It was a week that changed the world and gave hope for all, as Jesus paid the price for our salvation.